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James was honored with a tribute video during theCavaliers' 129-99 victory over theLos Angeles Lakerson Wednesday night, and it appeared to bring him to tears.

The four-time MVP was clearly emotional while on the bench as Cleveland showed the video on the screens at Rocket Arena. Among the highlights shown during the video was his playoff game against theDetroit Pistonsin 2007, when he scored 25 straight points.

"... Obviously, with the moment they put up there with the Detroit game and looking up in the rafters and seeing our championship banner, it was a lot of reflecting for sure,"James saidduring his postgame media availability.

James also saidthat "being present" led to the outpouring of emotion.

An emotional LeBron soaks in the Cleveland tribute 🥹pic.twitter.com/SrcXsUIEfl

— NBA (@NBA)January 29, 2026

James finished the game with 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in 27 minutes of play. He shot 3-for-10 from the field and was 0-for-3 from the 3-point line. He also had six turnovers.

While he largely struggled, the game still had plenty of highlights for James. One of them was having his mother, Gloria, in attendance for the game.

"My mom got to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time," James said.

James' son, Bronny James, also plays for the Lakers and he finished the game with eight points in eight minutes of play and had a highlight dunk late in the game. He went 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from the 3-point line.

The Cleveland crowd and LeBron were loving Bronny's dunk 🔥pic.twitter.com/VY8T4fSYqB

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)January 29, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:LeBron James cries during Cavaliers tribute video

Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner,is currently embroiled in a fascinating contract dispute with his employer, the Detroit Tigers. The 29-year-old hurler wants $32 million. The team would prefer to pay him $19 million. And while Skubal's true, open-market value is closer to, and likely even beyond, the former number, MLB's pre-free-agency salary scale caps his earning potential and complicates the conversation.

When he hits free agency at the end of 2026, Skubal will command a staggering sum. He is just the 12th pitcher in MLB history to win a Cy Young in consecutive seasons. Since the start of 2024, Skubal's 2.30 ERA is a third of a run lower than the next-lowest qualified tally (Zack Wheeler at 2.63). Only two other players (Cristopher Sánchez and Hunter Brown) are even under 3.00. Over that span, Skubal has the second-highest strikeout rate (31.2%) and third-lowest walk rate (4.5%) among qualified starters. No matter how you crunch the numbers, his greatness is difficult to debate.

But in the cattywampus world of MLB arbitration, debate is exactly what will happen.

To understand why Skubal's situation is so noteworthy, one must first understand the convoluted world of "arb." Here's an oversimplified overview.

When a player steps onto the diamond to make his MLB debut, he simultaneously starts a clock for control of his services. Depending on when in the season he debuts, a player is under team control for either six or seven seasons. For those first three seasons, big leaguers make the league minimum or close to it. There are various ways they can increase their earnings, but let's not get trapped in the weeds here.

Entering Years 4, 5 and 6 in the majors, players gain eligibility for salary arbitration, a process that about 150 players go through each winter. In arbitration, agents negotiate salaries on players' behalf until an early-January deadline. At that point, most players agree to terms with their clubs. The handful who don't hurdle toward a hearing, with both the player and the team filing a salary number with the league office. After that, the two sides are permitted to continue discussing terms. However, some organizations maintain a policy referred to as "file-and-trial," which, well, you're probably smart enough to figure that out.

The arbitration hearing itself, usually conducted in late January or early February, is a bizarre, outdated ritual of corporate theater. In a nondescript hotel conference center or rented boardroom, representatives for the two parties state their cases in front of a three-person panel of independent arbitrators. That trio listens to the arguments from both sides and decides whether the player is worth a dollar above or a dollar below the financial midpoint. The result: The player is paid either his proposed sum or the team's proposed sum. There is no in-between, no splitting the difference.

[Get more Detroit news: Tigers team feed]

That means unless Skubal and the Tigers find common ground ahead of their hearing date, the ace's 2026 contract will be either $19 million or $32 million. To be clear, both of those sums are livable wages. Skubal will be able to splurge for guac on his burrito bowl no matter what. But the difference is staggering.

And the prevailing opinion around the industry is that Skubal and the Tigers will not settle before their hearing. Detroit is a file-and-trial team, though it made an exception last winter with hurler Casey Mize. Then again, the financial disparity in that circumstance — $25,000 — was relative peanuts compared to where things stand with Skubal.

His case's $13 million gap,the largest ever in arbitration, is almost certainly unbridgeable. Skubal and his team are arguing from different ideological paradigms. A few phone calls between Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris and Skubal's agent, Scott Boras, can't untangle that reality.

Typically, final decisions rely entirely on comparables from the arbitration process, with judges comparing the player in question to players from previous seasons of a similar ilk, skill set and tenure. However, a rarely used clause in the collective bargaining agreement that allows players with "special accomplishments" to compare themselves to all players — not just previous arbitration-eligible players — likely emboldened Skubal and Boras to file such a large figure. It's a huge ask, but Skubal's back-to-back Cy Youngs would certainly qualify as "special accomplishments."

Skubal's aggressive filing makes this case something of a toss-up, as a $32 million salary would break Juan Soto's record for the highest salary ever for an arbitration-eligible player, at $31 million. The current record for a third-year-arb pitcher salary is $19.75 million, which, coincidentally, was given out by the Tigers to David Price in 2015. Accounting for inflation and Skubal's superior track record, Detroit's $19 million filing this go-around looks like a massive underpay.

Crucially, arbitration cases are based on a player's previous year salary. Skubal made $10 million last season. A jump to $32 million would be, far and away, the largest year-over-year raise for a starter in arbitration history. That record is currently held by Jacob deGrom, who went from $7.4 million to $17 million in his final year of arbitration after winning the 2018 Cy Young. Through this lens, the arbitrators siding with Skubal would represent an enormous break from precedent.

Had the Tigers filed a few million higher or Skubal a few million lower, it might be easier to pick a winner. Obviously, that's not what happened. The result is a $13 million mystery box.

Will this situation have a discernible impact on Skubal's future in the Motor City? It's possible, but not likely. Sometimes arbitration hearings foster bad blood between a player and a team;Corbin Burnes and the Brewers are a notable example. That's understandable, considering the team is spending time, resources and energy to craft an argument centered on a player's flaws.

But usually, money fixes everything. Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays went to a hearing before the 2024 season. Guerrero signed a 14-year, $500 million contract with Toronto the next year.

Barring injury, Skubal will enter free agency next winter and sign with whichever team offers him the biggest bag of riches. The outcome of his arbitration hearing won't change that. That doesn't mean Skubal vs. Detroit is important to only Skubal and Detroit.

If Skubal wins, it could dramatically alter future arbitration cases for frontline starters. For instance, Paul Skenes, the 2025 NL Cy Young winner, will enter his first year of arb next winter. How the judges rule on Skubal's situation will surely impact how Skenes' arbitration plays out. Both players are also on the MLB Players Association executive subcommittee, an eight-player group heavily involved in labor negotiations. Because Major League Baseball's Labor Relations Department plays a large role in helping craft teams' decisions ahead of arbitration, one could view Skubal's face-off with Detroit as part of the larger discord between league and union.

But the most tangible upshot of Skubal's upcoming hearing is how it has left Detroit's offseason in a total holding pattern. Multiple Yahoo Sports sources believe the Tigers are waiting to learn if Skubal will earn $19 million or $32 million this year before deciding whether to make additional expenditures this winter. That dynamic helps explain why Detroit, one win away from the ALCS last fall, has undertaken such an underwhelming offseason.

The Tigers extended a qualifying offer (one-year, $22.025 million) to second baseman Gleyber Torres, who accepted. Harris and Co. also re-signed reliever Kyle Finnegan to a two-year deal and added legendary closer Kenley Jansen and Drew Anderson, a former Phillies prospect coming off a stellar year in South Korea, on one-year contracts. Evenin the transactionally inactive AL Central, that's an unsatisfying haul.

A handful of free agents remain available— starters Zac Gallen and Lucas Giolito, third baseman Eugenio Suárez — and would be significant upgrades for a Detroit team thatshould be going full-throttle in what might very well be Skubal's last year in town. Unfortunately, there's a good chance the moment has passed, with so many of the impact free agents having already signed with new teams.

Detroit's organization remains in a healthy place. The Tigers — who appeared to be running away with the division in 2025 before a late-summer collapse — boast a quality batch of young position players, a dynamite bullpen and one of the better farm systems in baseball.

And for all the drama swirling around his future, Skubal is still on the roster. No matter how his arbitration case turns out, no matter the price attached to his name, the Tigers should be more aggressive in crafting an unimpeachable roster around their generational talent. Detroit tumbled out of October the past two seasons despite a slew of iconic Skubal outings because the lineup wasn't good enough.

Finding a way to upgrade that unit while Skubal is still around feels like a worthwhile course of action either way.

The five-time major champion parted ways with LIV Golf and was the first high-profile name to be accepted back on the PGA Tour. News emerged Wednesday that Patrick Reed will follow Koepka back to the tour later this year.

Koepka will play his first two rounds at Torrey Pines with Max Homa and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, Thursday on the South Course and Friday on the North Course. After the 36-hole cut, the final two rounds are contested on the famed South Course, site of the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens.

Koepka's return is such an event for the sport that ESPN agreed to elevate its usual streaming-only "PGA Tour Live" coverage to linear television on Thursday and Friday afternoon. It's ESPN's first broadcast of a non-major in nearly 20 years.

As for Koepka, 35, it will be his first start at a standard event since the WGC-Dell Match Play in March 2022. He won five times on LIV, but that doesn't make him impervious to nerves.

"Maybe I'm a little nervous about that as well just to see how, I guess, how the fans respond to it," Koepka said. "I hope that they're excited. I hope that they're happy that I'm out here."

He also has admitted to some anxiety about having conversations with his PGA Tour peers, given the acrimonious LIV-PGA split in 2022. Count San Diego native Xander Schauffele among those who'd rather focus on the future.

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"I think it helps our tour," Schauffele said. "... It's not going to make the tour weaker having a five-time major just want to come back and play."

At No. 6, Schauffele is the highest-ranked player in the world on the property as he makes his season debut. No. 7 J.J. Spaun, defending champion Harris English, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Sony Open in Hawaii champ Chris Gotterup are among other big names in the field.

Spaun, another native of Southern California and a San Diego State alumnus like Schauffele, will try to build on his breakout 2025 season that saw him win the U.S. Open and compete at the Ryder Cup.

"I won a major and I feel like if I keep doing the right things and doing the things that I did last year to set myself up for that, like if I'm in contention, I truly believe that I can win another one," Spaun said.

"So I think that's the biggest goal that I've had since then was just the fact that I did win a major. I believe that I can win one. I feel like you bust one door down, you can have the proof to keep going."

After this week, Koepka plans to play the WM Phoenix Open and the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches as he gets his bearings on tour again. A strong performance this week could help him qualify via the "Aon Swing 5" for upcoming signature events, like the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

"That's the fun part, I love the grind, I've always enjoyed it," Koepka said. "I guess it's a fresh start for me, which is cool. It's just another chapter I guess in my book. I'm excited for that. I feel like my game's in pretty good shape and I want to see where it's at."

--Field Level Media

It may come before the Feb. 5 trading deadline, or it may come in the offseason, butAntetokounmpo has reportedly indicated that he's ready to move onfrom the Bucks. Milwaukee, understandably, has started to listen to offers and may consider shipping the two-time Most Valuable Player before the deadline.

Yet, even if a deal cannot be reached by then, the Bucks could still move Antetokounmpo over the offseason, when suitors would have more financial flexibility and draft capital available to package in an offer.

With that said, which teams can actually present compelling cases to land the versatile star?

Here are potential landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo:

Eastern Conference Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (second All-Star selection)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Western Conference Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (12th All-Star selection)

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Giannis, Curry, Doncic highlight 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters

Miami Heat

This is going to depend on what the Bucks are actually prioritizing in a return, but no team may have a better case than the Heat. Miami has more depth than star power and has some younger players with promise who could be part of a Bucks rebuild.

The centerpiece would be 2024-25 All-Star guardTyler Herro(26 years old), who has had injury concerns, but who has been a steady scoring threat when on the floor. Second-year centerKel'el Ware(21) is another intriguing player who has excellent rebounding ability; Ware ranks sixth in the NBA in rebounds this season (420), despite at least 200 minutes fewer than the players ahead of him. Ware has had motor concerns, but he's an excellent lob threat and can stretch the floor with shooting range.

Miami can also offer one ofJaime Jaquez Jr.(24) orNikola Jović(22) and some first-round draft picks. And, if Miami can moveAndrew Wigginsin a trade to theGolden State Warriors, the Heat could potentially recoup another pick to package in an Antetokounmpo deal.

New York Knicks

This has reportedly been Antetokounmpo's preferred landing spot, given its market size, ability to compete for championships and proximity to international airports that can get him to his native Greece with relative ease.

And while the Knicks do have some interesting assets that could entice the Bucks, it's going to depend on Milwaukee's preference. For one, the easy assumption is that forward-centerKarl-Anthony Townswould be a seamless swap, butMilwaukee just signed center Myles Turnerto a four-year, $107 million contract that keeps him with the Bucks through the 2027-28 season, with a player option for the following year.

Turner and Towns have similar skill sets, and Towns feels like a redundancy in Milwaukee. The Bucks are probably more intrigued by wingsOG AnunobyandMikal Bridges, with whom New York might be less willing to part. The Knicks would almost certainly require the addition of a third or fourth team to facilitate the deal.

The Bucks reportedly prefer younger talent and draft capital, neither of which the Knicks necessarily have, at least right now. Towns is 30, Bridges 29, Anunoby 28. Backup point guardMiles McBrideis 25, but he would need to be a secondary piece in any deal. For this to work, the Knicks would need to get creative in finding ways to sweeten their package.

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Atlanta Hawks

This looks like another interesting spot because the Hawks do have a balance of both young talent and draft capital. For one, the Hawks already own a massively valuable draft pick, an unprotected 2026 first rounder that's the most favorable between the Pelicans and the Bucks. New Orleans currently has the NBA's third-worst winning percentage and the Bucks are 18-27. There's the high likelihood that this pick will be a high lottery selection.

The Hawks may not want to part with that selection, but Atlanta nonetheless has plenty of draft capital and swaps it can offer.

The Bucks, though, may want to get talented forwardJalen Johnsonin return. The Hawks have built their team around Johnson and may not make him available. That would complicate things, asZaccharie Risacher, rookieAsa NewellandLuke Kennardlikely won't be enough to sway Milwaukee.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Toronto Raptors

This is a team that has been a massive surprise and one that may be a sneaky contender in the East. Point guardImmanuel Quickleyhas shined recently, winning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Monday, Jan. 26. GuardRJ Barrettwill also likely be available.

That won't be enough. The Bucks will likely not consider any deal with Toronto unless it includes 2024 All-StarScottie Barnes, who's 24.Brandon Ingramis a solid player who would otherwise be a decent asset, but he's 28 and not as versatile as Barnes.

But Toronto has viewed Barnes as the key franchise cornerstone, and ideally would love to pair him with Antetokounmpo. The Raptors will likely need to get creative to involve teams to strengthen their offer – assuming Barnes is untouchable.

Orlando Magic

Headed into the start of last season,Paolo Bancherowas widely seen as one of the more promising, young players in the NBA. Given his recent struggles, that has changed somewhat, though he still holds significant promise.

Banchero is 23 and was an All-Star two seasons ago, but his scoring has dipped considerably (21.6 points per game, down from 25.9 last season). The Magic have lost 14 of their last 24 games, and the franchise might feel thatFranz Wagner, 24, is the player they want to build around.

The issue is that the Magic don't have much in the way of draft capital and younger players that could tempt Milwaukee. Put another way: the Bucks would have to really like Banchero for this to work.

The field

Could thePhoenix Sunsbe a player in a package led byJalen Green, a dynamic but inconsistent athlete who has played just four games this year? Could theGolden State Warriorssomehow leverageJonathan Kuminga,Jimmy Butler(who recently tore his anterior cruciate ligament) and picks into a deal? Could theDallas Maverickssend veterans likeAnthony DavisandKlay Thompsonto Milwaukee? What about a young team like theWashington Wizards, who have more young players than veterans?

What about teams that are already contenders like theHouston RocketsorSan Antonio Spurs? Could they tear up their current (and successful) builds for a push to compete?

There's always the possibility of the infamous mystery team that could be lurking. The reality is, of the 29 teams in the NBA aside from the Bucks, all but one or two of them are probably discussing if there's a viable path to get him.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Giannis Antetokounmpo landing spots, Milwaukee Bucks trade partners

While the specific reasons that Belichick didn't get into the Hall in his first year of eligibility are unknown, there are some possible explanations why at least 11 of the 50 voters didn't vote for one of the sport's most accomplished coaches.

Belichick's role in the "Spygate" scandal in 2007 could have had a similar impact on his candidacy that steroids have had in the baseball Hall of Fame at keeping stars such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens out of Cooperstown.

The rule changes put in place last year by the Hall also could have played a part, including possible frustration from some voters about the decision to eliminate the five-year waiting period for coaches that made Belichick eligible for the ballot after sitting out only one season as an NFL coach.

The changes also made it more difficult for anyone — Belichick included — to get into the Hall as evidenced by onlyfour people getting voted in last yearfor the smallest class in 20 years. Coaches are now competing directly with players in the seniors category instead of being judged on their own.

Here's a look at how the new rules have impacted the voting:

How do coaches become finalists?

Along with eliminating the five-year waiting period, coaches also were separated from contributors in terms of becoming finalists. A blue-ribbon committee whittles the coaches down to one finalist, withBelichick getting the nod this year. The one coach was grouped with one contributor, which wasPatriots owner Robert Kraft, and three seniors players who haven't played in the past 25 seasons. Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood are the finalists this year.

What about the modern era players?

The biggest group of finalists comes from the modern era category, with15 players pickedafter a process of cutting down nominees started with a screening committee that picks 50 nominees. The full 50-person selection committee cuts that down to 25 semifinalists and then 15 finalists, with any player who made it to the final seven and didn't get in last year guaranteed a spot in the final 15.

Who are the voters?

The selection committee consists of 50 voters, with 32 picked as media representatives of each team and the rest consisting of at-large voters, including some Hall of Famers such as Bill Polian, Tony Dungy, Dan Fouts and James Lofton. All the voters got on a video conference earlier this month, with one voter making a presentation and others then allowed to offer their opinions in a debate. The vote is conducted by secret ballot, with the results announced Feb. 5 at "NFL Honors" in San Francisco.

How does someone get in?

The threshold to get into the Hall is 80% — 40 of the 50 voters — but it's not as simple as an up-or-down vote.

Before the rule changes last year, five modern era finalists were picked to have an up-or-down vote, as well as the senior finalists and any coach or contributor who made it to the final stage. That typically led to five modern era players getting in with most — but not all — of the seniors, coaches and contributors also getting in.

Now, it's much more difficult.

The voters will cut down the list of modern era candidates from 15 to 10 and then seven. A final vote will be held for those seven, with each voter allowed to vote for only five players. If some candidates such as Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald get wide support, that would leave fewer available votes for any other potential candidates in the final seven to get to 80%. That led to only three modern era players — Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates — getting in last year.

It's a similar process for the seniors, coaches and contributors. Voters can vote for only three of the final finalists, with the top vote-getter and anyone else who gets 80% support getting into the Hall. Sterling Sharpe was the only person to reach that threshold last year from the group of finalists, while players Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer, coach Mike Holmgren and contributor Ralph Hay fell short.

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Playingin his league-record 23rd season, James is in a contract year with the Lakers. Now 41, Jamespicked up his $52.6 million player optionlast June, but thennews broke that L.A. didn't offer the four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion an extension. Also, James was reportedly not given a heads-up about thesale of the Lakers from the Buss family to Mark Walter, whereas new franchise centerpiece Luka Dončić was reportedly clued in about the transaction.

In September, though, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka doubled downon his Aug. 2 comments,reaffirming that he'd "love if LeBron's story would be to retire as a Laker."

Jamesmissed the first 14 games of the season due to sciatica, a pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the glute and down the leg.

He returned to the courton Nov. 19and has played in 28 games so far. James has started in every game he has played this season, and he's averaging 22.4 points — his fewest since his rookie season with the Cavaliers in 2003-04 — along with 6.7 assists and 6 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per outing.

James finished eighth in All-Star voting earlier this month. As a result,he won't be a starter in the midseason exhibitionfor the first time in 22 years. A 21-time All-Star, he could still be picked as a reserve for the All-Star Game, butthat will be up to NBA head coaches to decide.

A bit more than midway through the regular season, James' eighth with the Lakers, L.A. is 28-17 and fifth in the Western Conference.

James is amid the longest uninterrupted stay with a team of his NBA career. But his contract is set to expire at the end of this season, and the 26-year-old Dončić has become the focal point for a franchise that James helped return to the mountain top with an NBA championship after the 2019-20 season.

If James doesn't retire and decides to take his talents back to Cleveland for the 2026-27 season, he'd be embarking on his third stint with the Cavaliers, who famously selected the Akron, Ohio, native out of St. Vincent–St. Mary High School with the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft.

James played for the Cavs from 2003 to '10 and then, after winning two NBA titles with the Miami Heat as part of their "Big 3," again from 2014 to '18. In his second stint, he delivered Cleveland its first NBA championship in historic fashion, guiding the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 Finals deficit against a record-setting, 73-win Golden State Warriors team.

He signed with the Lakers in the summer of 2018. And for now, he is reportedly committed to the Lakers.

James stopped drinking alcohol during his rehab from sciatica and has dropped weight in an attempt to alleviate back and joint pressure and stay fresh alongside his younger teammates,as reported by ESPN on Wednesday.

We all saw last season how valuable the No. 1 seed is when all four top teams in the bracket made it to theFinal Four, the second time it's happened since seeding began in 1979. With how strong the top teams in the country look, that very much could happen again, making it paramount to get the top spots in the bracket and get the inside track to Indianapolis.

Bracketology:March Madness projection dominated by Big Ten

Selection Sunday is six weeks away, but we are getting a good sense of who is in the running to be a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA tournament.

Arizona

Record:21-0 (8-0).Quad 1 record:9-0.NET Ranking:1.

Why Arizona is here:The Wildcats put themselves in the top spot, one of two undefeated teams left in the country. The nine Quad 1 wins are tied for the most in the country, and most of them came in what was a challenging nonconference schedule that included Florida, UConn and Alabama. Arizona had a relatively easy start to Big 12 play that showcased its dominance, and it continued playing a top brand of basketball in a roadwin against BYU that ended a little too close for comfort.

What's next:The schedule only gets tougher. Arizona plays six ranked teams in 10-game stretch, which includesIowa State, Houston and Kansas twice. Arizona will certainly be tested, but it is very safe right now in being a No. 1 seed.

Time to believe in Arizona?No. 1 Wildcats give reason to hope — and worry vs. BYU

Michigan

Record:19-1 (9-1).Quad 1 record:6-0.NET Ranking:3.

Why Michigan is here:Remember when everyone was ready to declare Michigan national champion in November? Arguably no one had a better start than theWolverines, who blew out teams for much of the first two months of the season, including a 40-point romp of Gonzaga. They aren't blowing teams out as much since then, but they keep winning — the only defeat a three-point loss to a hot-shooting Wisconsin team. The Wolverines got a big resume boostby ending Nebraska's undefeated seasonTuesday, Jan. 27.

What's next:A trip to in-state rival Michigan State is the first major road game for Michigan, and February will only get more challenging with games away from home against Purdue,Dukeand Illinois in a 10-day span.

UConn

Record:20-1 (10-0).Quad 1 record:5-1.NET Ranking:8.

Why UConn is here:Dan Hurley is back in the title conversation. What's impressive about UConn's resume is the five Quad 1 wins all came away from home, including neutral games against BYU and Illinois, as well as a road victory at Kansas. The lone blemish is a home loss to Arizona, a game the Huskies could have won. The Big East has presented some challenges, but they have emerged victorious in every conference game so far.

What's next:The rest of Big East isn't near UConn, with the biggest challenges two February games against St. John's and at Villanova. This team has the easiest path to a No. 1 seed and it's theirs to lose, even without a top five NET ranking.

Duke

Record:19-1 (8-0).Quad 1 record:9-1.NET Ranking:2.

Why Duke is here:Of course, Duke found a way to be even better after Cooper Flagg left. The Blue Devils had challenging nonconference slate and made statements with wins over Kansas, Florida and Michigan State. They are a one-point loss vs. Texas Tech away from being undefeated. The nine Quad 1 wins are tied with Arizona for the most in the country, picking up more in dominating fashion in the ACC. It has won every conference game by an average margin of 15.7 points, including two routs of Louisville.

What's next:An improved ACC will continue to challenge Duke outside of the two meetings with rival North Carolina. Clemson and Virginia visit Cameron Indoor Stadium in February, and then there's the game against Michigan that could give it the best nonconference resume in the country.

Just on the outside

Nebraska

Record:20-1 (9-1).Quad 1 record:6-1.NET Ranking:5.

Why Nebraska is here:Nebrasketball is alive and well in a historic season for the Cornhuskers. The perfect start came with some caution as they weren't tested much to start the season, but all was validated with wins over Illinois and Michigan State. Even though its undefeated season ended against Michigan, the narrow loss proved theCornhuskersare in the same tier of title contenders.

What's next:The Cornhuskers are in the midst of one of their toughest stretches with Illinois up next and Purdue visiting Lincoln in a few weeks. However, the end of the regular season isn't too treacherous. There's a chance Nebraska gets a top-two seed for the first time, and finally captures that elusive first NCAA tournament win.

Gonzaga

Record:21-1 (9-0).Quad 1 record:3-1.NET Ranking:4.

Why Gonzaga is here:Another year, another run of dominance for Gonzaga. The blowout loss to Michigan has overshadowed what's been another outstanding start for Mark Few, with wins against Alabama and Kentucky away from the Northwest. It did enough to start the resume strong before West Coast Conference play began, which has been another relatively easy going run for Gonzaga in its last year in the conference.

What's next:As usual, Gonzaga faces an easy rest of the regular season, with the major challenge being the two annual games against Saint Mary's. Prime opportunity to boost the low Quad 1 resume, and the Bulldogs can hope teams above them start to slip so they can climb up the seed line.

Houston

Record:17-2 (5-1).Quad 1 record:4-2.NET Ranking:11.

Why Houston is here:Last season's national runner-up has quietly put itself back in a spot to be a No. 1 seed for the fourth-straight season. The early season loss to Tennessee doesn't look as good with the Volunteers' inconsistency since then, but it was able to split the season series with Texas Tech. The Cougars are still one of the best defensive teams in the country and have become even better offensively.

What's next:The Big 12 gauntlet gives Houston more opportunities to rise, with games against BYU, Iowa State, Arizona and Kansas in the middle of February. That stretch will determine whether the Cougars can be a top seed.

Iowa State

Record:18-2 (5-2).Quad 1 record:5-1.NET Ranking:7.

Why Iowa State is here:The high-powered Iowa State offense blitzed several teams to start the season, headlined by the big road victory over Purdue. It hasn't nabbed any notable wins since then, and the two uninspiring losses have pushed the Cyclones away from a No. 1 spot, mostly thanks to suffering a Quad 2 loss at the hands of Cincinnati.

What's next:There are plenty of key win opportunities coming up for the Cyclones. It ends the season with six Quad 1 games in the last eight, which features Houston, BYU, Texas Tech and Arizona, needing to win at least three of them to feel good about getting the first No. 1 seed in program history.

Also contenders

Illinois, Texas Tech and Michigan State,

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who can be No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament? Breaking down contenders